Counting down the miles

After two days in which the weather exerted an occasionally malevolent influence on the Diageo championship, a benign calm settled over Gleneagles, the favourable conditions all but challenging the players to answer back. The most unsettled area of the course yesterday turned out to be the leaderboard where, beneath Miles Tunnicliff, the tournament leader, a clutch of low scores saw players jostle for position with quiet determination.

It seemed for a time that the brisk movement below Tunnicliff might suck him down like a strong undercurrent. The Englishman began the day five clear of the field — having negotiated the rampaging storm of Thursday and the unforgiving crosswinds of Friday — but ended his third round relieved to have shot par and to still be leading by three shots at nine under. Despite the soft greens and a breeze that was as gentle as a baby ’s breath, the 35-year-old seemed unable